Reversible, Protective garment for military or paramilitary firefighter

ABSTRACT

Being reversible, a protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergency worker has a shell of high visibility and a shell of low visibility. The shell of high visibility has portions that are reflective, fluorescent, or both, which the shell of low visibility does not have. When facing outwardly, the shell of low visibility appears black, or at least dark, in ambient light or displays camouflage. Except that the shell of low visibility does not have any reflective or fluorescent portions, the shells conform to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for outer shells of protective garments for firefighters. The shells are equal, or at least similar, in basis weights.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention pertains to a protective garment for a firefighteror emergency worker, particularly a military or paramilitary firefighteror emergency worker. This invention contemplates that the protectivegarment is reversible so as to expose, as an outer shell, either a shellof high visibility or a shell of low visibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Protective garments for firefighters and emergency workersinclude coats, trousers, overalls, and coveralls. Currently, NationalFire Protection Association (NFPA) standards require a protectivegarment for a firefighter to have reflective trim, which enhances thevisibility of the protective garment and, therefore, the visibility ofits wearer under smoke-laden and other adverse conditions. Generally,reflective trim is affixed by sewing, adhesively, or otherwise.

[0003] However, for a military or paramilitary firefighter or emergencyworker operating where a tactical operation has developed or is expectedto develop, a need for low visibility may override a need for highvisibility. Heretofore, a military or paramilitary firefighter oremergency worker may have to be issued two types of protective garments,i.e., protective garments to be worn in a tactical operation, in whichthe need for low visibility overrides the need for high visibility, andprotective garments to be worn otherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] This invention provides a protective garment for a military orparamilitary firefighter or emergency worker. Being reversible, theprotective garment has a shell of high visibility and a shell of lowvisibility. The protective garment is wearable with either shell facingoutwardly. The shell of high visibility has portions that arereflective, fluorescent, or both, which the shell of low visibility doesnot have. Those portions, which face outwardly when the protectivegarment is worn so that the shell of high visibility faces outwardly,may be provided by reflective trim affixed by sewing, adhesively, orotherwise to the shell of high visibility. Preferably, when facingoutwardly, the shell of low visibility appears black, or at least dark,in ambient light. Alternatively, when facing outwardly, the shell of lowvisibility displays camouflage.

[0005] Preferably, except that the shell of low visibility does not havereflective trim or any reflective or fluorescent portions, the shellsconform to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards forouter shells of protective garments for firefighters. Preferably,moreover, the shells are equal, or at least similar, in basis weights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a protective coat embodying thisinvention, as worn with its shell of high visibility facing outwardly.FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the same coat, as worn with its shell oflow visibility facing outwardly. FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sections, astaken respectively along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and along line 4-4 of FIG.2, in directions indicated by arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0007] As illustrated, a protective coat 10 for a military orparamilitary firefighter or emergency worker embodies this invention andhas a shell 20 of high visibility and a shell 30 of low visibility. Ascontemplated by this invention, the shell 20 of high visibility hasseveral strips 40 of reflective trim, which the shell 30 of lowvisibility does not have. Preferably, when facing outwardly, the shell30 of low visibility appears black, or at least dark, in ambient light.Alternatively, when facing outwardly, the shell 30 of low visibilitydisplays camouflage.

[0008] Preferably, except that the shell 30 of low visibility does nothave reflective trim, the shells conform in weight, tear strength, andother characteristics to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)standards for outer shells of protective garments for firefighters.Preferably, moreover, the shells 20, 30, are equal, or at least similar,in basis weights. A preferred material for the shells 20, 30, is Nomex™material having a basis weight of nine ounces (9 oz.) per square yard,as available commercially from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company ofWilmington, Del. Such material is available commercially in patternsthat display camouflage. Scotchlite™ reflective trim is suitable, asavailable commercially from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Companyof St. Paul, Minn.

[0009] As illustrated, the protective coat 10 has between the shells 20,30, a layer 50 providing a moisture barrier. Along with the layer 50providing the moisture barrier, another layer or other layers may bealso provided between the shells 20, 30, such as a layer providingthermal insulation. Although a protective coat is illustrated, thisinvention may be also embodied in other protective garments, such astrousers, overalls, and coveralls.

[0010] In a tactical operation, in which the need for low visibilityoverrides the need for high visibility, a military or paramilitaryfirefighter or emergency worker may wear the protective coat 10 with theshell 30 of low visibility facing outwardly. Otherwise, the firefighteror emergency worker may wear the protective coat 10 with the shell 20 ofhigh visibility facing outwardly. If a tactical operation develops or isexpected to develop while a military or paramilitary firefighter oremergency worker is wearing the protective garment 10 with the shell 20of high visibility facing outwardly, the firefighter or emergency workermay have an opportunity to doff the protective coat 10, reverse it, andre-don it with the shell 30 of low visibility facing outwardly.

1. A protective garment for a military or paramilitary firefighter oremergency worker, the protective garment being reversible and having ashell of high visibility and a shell of low visibility, the protectivegarment being wearable with either shell facing outwardly, wherein theshell of high visibility has portions that are reflective, fluorescent,or both, which face outwardly when the protective garment is worn sothat the shell of high visibility faces outwardly and which the shell oflow visibility does not have.
 2. The protective garment of claim 1wherein those portions are provided by reflective trim affixed to theshell of high visibility.
 3. The protective garment of claim 1 wherein,when facing outwardly, the shell of low visibility appears dark inambient light.
 4. The protective garment of claim 1 wherein, when facingoutwardly, the shell of low visibility appears black in ambient light.5. The protective garment of claim 1 wherein, when facing outwardly, theshell of low visibility displays camouflage.
 6. The protective garmentof claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein, except that the shell of lowvisibility does not have reflective trim or any reflective orfluorescent portions, the shells conform to National Fire ProtectionAssociation (NFPA) standards for outer shells of protective garments forfirefighters.
 7. The protective garment of claim 6 wherein the shellsare similar in basis weights.
 8. The protective garment of claim 6wherein the shells are equal in basis weights.